When The City of Fishers announced the Veterans Day celebration, set for outside at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater, had been switched to a virtual event Wednesday morning, I knew something was up on the COVID-19 front.  Then the word came down that the Fishers Health Department had increased the risk level to Level 4, Red, the highest risk level.

That was the subject of discussion at the Fishers Board of Health meeting Tuesday night.  The board took no action, but will mull over specific recommendations presented by the Health Department and meet again Friday at 4pm to consider taking action.

The recommendations for action would limit indoor gatherings outside a personal residence to no more than 10 people, and that requires wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands.  For outside activities, the limit would be 25 people with the same mitigation requirements as indoor events.

Special events would require a plan subject to approval by the Fishers Health Department.

The recommendations include eliminating school extra-curricular activities, in an effort to preserve in-person classes.  This would include athletics.

Mayor Scott Fadness, presiding over the Board of Health meeting, says the public may make comments on the recommendations before the board takes a vote on any actions Friday.

The board asked the Board of Health staff to look into guidelines for businesses other than restaurants and retail food outlets as part of the recommendations.

Here is a part of the Tuesday night meeting where City Attorney Chris Greisl reviews the details of the recommendations, followed by a discussion with Mayor Fadness and Monica Heltz of the Health Department.  Below that is the city news release with more details on Tuesday night’s Board of Health meeting.

At the Tuesday Fishers Board of Health meeting, Monica Heltz, Public Health Director, presented findings to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases experienced in Fishers.

As part of the proposed recommendations, Heltz outlined several key areas:

• Social gatherings are a primary source of spread according to reporting from contact tracers
• COVID-19 infection is widespread across the Fishers community with no one concentrated area.
• All ages appear to be equally affected
• Strong indication that schools remain a safe space for students in terms of case-to-case transmission

These key findings informed the following proposals that will undergo consideration for adoption during Friday’s scheduled Board of Health meeting.

Recommendations

• Avoid gatherings in homes, workplaces, churches
• Stay at home except for essential services (i.e. school, work, healthcare, and groceries)
• Utilize curbside delivery, carryout services and/or home delivery
• Work from home if possible
• Increase sanitation protocols
• Gyms and retail establishments should have special hours for high-risk individuals
• Mask up; distance; sanitize

• 5 Core requirements for Orange and Red
• All school-sponsored extracurriculars canceled in Red
• Enforcement via environmental inspections by FHD
• One case in a class quarantines the entire class

Public Health Order

• Cancellation of school-sponsored extracurricular activities

• No bar seating – patrons must sit at designated tables
• No more than 8 people at a table
• Masks must be worn at restaurants until food arrives, however can be temporarily removed for drinking beverages before food arrives

• Confined entertainment spaces: No more than 8 in group

• Indoors: 10 maximum
• Outdoors: 25 maximum
• 1 spectator per participant at sporting events

Mask Mandate Modification

In addition to the potential implementation of the public health orders, the Fishers Health Department asks all residents to make Every Action Count. Every Action Counts in the fight against COVID-19. We’re counting on you to make a difference. Every time you wear your mask. Every time you attend virtual meetings. And every time you keep your distance—your choices help keep everyone healthy.

• Wear a mask
• Distance
• Sanitize
• No outside visitors to your household